Jewish students voice concern for student welfare following Monash Student Council motion

The Australasian Union of Jewish Students has condemned a motion passed by the Monash Student Association that rescinds MSA’s neutrality on the Israel-Palestinian conflict, and claims that Israel has been responsible for “bombardment" of a refugee camp and “ethnic cleansing”.

“The basis of the motion are a series of wholly false and unverified claims,” AUJS political affairs director Matthew Lesh said. “The simple reality is that Israel is has a right to defend itself against Hamas, a terrorist organisation that has consistently targeted Israeli civilians and used human shields.”

“This motion does nothing to understand or solve the complex social, political, and military situation of an ongoing conflict,” Mr Lesh said

Jewish students also noted that disgusting manner in which the motion was rammed through without warning.

“This motion was passed without any consultation or prior notice to the student body, and discussed at a meeting during the university break period,” Monash Jewish Students' Society President Bryan Ladowsky said.

In the context of various antisemitic attacks against Jewish students at Australian universities, including a late night physical assault against a Jewish student last year, AUJS voiced their concern about the results of the motion.

“This motion serves to disconnect and alienate Jewish students from the MSA and student body at large,” Mr Ladowsky said. “Following antisemitic attacks against Jewish students in recent years, this motion will only make Jewish students feel more uncomfortable and unsafe on campus.”